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Saturday, January 30, 2010

The Uniform Project - Library Version?

Have you heard of The Uniform Project, where a fashion student decided to wear the same basic black dress for one full year (1 dress. 365 days), using different fashion accessories, with a goal of raising money to pay for student uniforms in India? Here is what Sheena Matheikensays:

"Starting May 2009, I have pledged to wear one dress for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion. Here’s how it works: There are 7 identical dresses, one for each day of the week. Every day I will reinvent the dress with layers, accessories and all kinds of accouterments, the majority of which will be vintage, hand-made, or hand-me-down goodies. Think of it as wearing a daily uniform with enough creative license to make it look like I just crawled out of the Marquis de Sade's boudoir.

The Uniform Project is also a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year, all contributions will go toward Akanksha’s School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for children living in Indian slums."

Is there a library version of the Uniform Project? For example, what would a "1 book. 365 days" project look like? Here is a starter list. A librarian, team of librarians, FRIEND of the Library, or Library "Best Seller" could:

Read Aloud the SAME book to a different person or group of people each day for 365 days (and post about it).

Read Aloud a DIFFERENT book to a different person or group of people each day for 365 days (and post about it).

Storytelling. Tell the same or a different story each day to a new person or audience.

Book Talk a book-a-day for 365 days. Create an online "book talk"podcast/video for each day.

OTHER? What project would fun and meaningful to support libraries and literacy?

In all cases, each day should include a new "post" to a blog; a "tweet" to followers; ongoing requests to support the library or a library program.